Nicki Minaj hosted the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards which focused on celebrating 50 years of hip hop and the music videos that further shaped the songs we all know and love.  Lil Wayne opened the show with a fiery bang by performing hit songs such...

Olivia Rodrigo’s “GUTS” feels like an album of bad decisions, and I love it.  If the album’s lead singles were any sign, “GUTS” is a turn away from the youthful love and heartbreak on Rodrigo’s debut album “SOUR.”  If “SOUR”...

If you’ve spent the first 18 years of your life never giving groceries a second thought, finding ways to budget for weekly shopping can be a daunting task as a college student. Here are a few ways to plan ahead, save and make the most of your grocery...

In June, Tatianna Salisbury, an NIU alum, released her self-published debut book, ‘words my heart needed to hear,’ a collection of poems and short stories.  Salisbury has drawn on her own life experiences to create a 154-page book that explores...

Tessa Rane Majors was an artist, musician and photographer who was a freshman at Barnard College. On Dec. 11, 2019, Majors was stabbed to death outside her college, at 18 years old.  More than three years later on April 21, Majors’ parents released...

“Spirited Away: Live on Stage” made its first appearance in North America Sunday.  This stage adaptation of Hayao Miyazaki’s 2001 film “Spirited Away” marks the second event from the line-up of Studio Ghibli Fest. This festival celebrates...

Denim is in right now. Whether it be vintage-inspired denim – a raw, deep blue made to be worn in for years – or modern denim – stretched thin and taut, cropped above the ankle – denim is here to stay. For those looking to move beyond the standard...

Lloyd Cole has been in the music industry for nearly 40 years and in that time, he’s gathered more than a few thoughts on it. The British musician, known for his sensitive, literate songwriting style, first rose to fame in the 1980s with his band...

The Reality Bytes film festival came to a formidable end Wednesday. The annual independent student festival, directed by Dr. Laura Vazquez, showcased 20 short films from all over the globe. The 20 short films, chosen from 100 submissions, were shown free...

NIU’s annual film festival is right around the corner and welcomes all film buffs to watch and discuss the many works crafted by student filmmakers.  NIU will be hosting its annual Reality Bytes Film Festival on April 11-12. The festival will showcase...

Life is uncertain right now. Times are hard for a lot of us, for any number of reasons. Yet, we must hold onto hope. Instead of rhyming couplets, I’ve written each sign its own unique haiku relative to how they may be feeling this week.    Aries...

This week, every sign is receiving a song to fit their potential moods or goals as the moon and Mars move into Cancer. This is a time of bold decisions and dealing with fallout.   Aries (March 21 - April 20) Your song: “Death By Glamour”...